Favorites have to be Lebron James for MVP and Heat for the title.I'd like to the see the T-Wolves win it all, obviously that isn't happening so I just want to make sure a few teams don't win it: Lakers, Spurs, maybe some others that don't have a chance.

Lebron and Kevin Durant have to be the favorites for MVP. With the shorter schedule I think it benefits older, more expeienced teams. So I would look for Boston, Dallas, San Antonio, and the Lakers to be out front

Thunder and Hawks are my hope for the NBA title matchup (probably won't happen)...really would love to see the Wolves make it...but I'd be happier if they just won enough to be in playoff contention this season.

Run4Fun2009 wrote:Thunder and Hawks are my hope for the NBA title matchup (probably won't happen)...really would love to see the Wolves make it...but I'd be happier if they just won enough to be in playoff contention this season.

I won't lie, I'd be happier if they were in the NBA Finals than if they were competing for the 8th playoff spot.

I think the owner of the Cavaliers should spend more time trying to make his team better than trying to bring other teams down to his team's level. We have large markets vs small markets in every major pro sport - thats simply the way things are. Gilbert needs to quit whining about the Lakers, etc... and focus on the Cavaliers. I can see why Lebron didn't want to stay with Gilbert's organization.

Sportsrube wrote:I think the owner of the Cavaliers should spend more time trying to make his team better than trying to bring other teams down to his team's level. We have large markets vs small markets in every major pro sport - thats simply the way things are. Gilbert needs to quit whining about the Lakers, etc... and focus on the Cavaliers. I can see why Lebron didn't want to stay with Gilbert's organization.

Gilbert is a total wack Job!! and Lebron knows it

"It doesn't matter who scores the points, it's who can get the ball to the scorer" - Larry Bird

I like this move by the Thunder.....It may take away from them slightly for a chance at the title this current season but they are young and with all the draft picks coming up they are the team of the future...lets say after Lebron gets a couple more...

FROM SI:Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade called the Oklahoma City Thunder’s trade of James Harden to the Houston Rockets “shocking.”

“It was shocking but they made the move they felt was right for them,” Wade said, according to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst.

“It shakes up the West a little bit. I think both team got fair value. I’m not a GM or anything but both teams came out pretty good.”

Wade’s Heat beat the Thunder in five games last season to win the NBA title.

The defending Western Conference champion Thunder stunned much of the NBA world by dealing Harden on Sunday, which broke up Oklahoma City’s young, talented nucleus. In return, the Rockets sent back guards Kevin Martin and Jeremy Lamb, two first-round picks and a second-round pick.

The Thunder and Harden had been unable to come to an agreement on a multi-year extension that would have kept him locked up along with fellow young stars Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and Serge Ibaka. The two sides had to agree to a deal by Oct. 31, or Harden would have become a restricted free agent next July.

Harden said Sunday that he expects to sign a long-term extension with the Rockets.

“It happened so fast, it happened very fast,” Harden said. “But this is the position I’m in now. Just have to make the best out of it. I’m with Houston now. I just have to come in here and play hard and win games.”

"It doesn't matter who scores the points, it's who can get the ball to the scorer" - Larry Bird

I think its a great move by the Thunder. Setting a precedent that they aren't going to tie up all their money in the "big three" like everyone else is doing. Lamb could turn into a great player, but at the very least be an exellent role player. Martin will do fine adding some scoring off the bench to fill the void left without Harden. The draft picks can be used to reload or trade for a need in the future. I think Harden is a very good player, but definitely not worth a max deal.

"There is only one thing in which a person can start at the top - digging a hole"

Harden on any team isn't going to be considered big three....actually I don't believe in the big three theory BS.....if thats the Case the Lakers where the Big 5 in the day and so were the Celtics....plus they both had severe depth......A Basketball team is a basketball team and with Billionaires Building them they can have anybody they want on their team...its simple

A Coach is more important than any player..Why? he has to get the Player to Buy in, without paying him.

its like this...LeBron stays in Cleveland they pickup a couple of pieces of the puzzle that they wer missing along with a Coach that can unify....they win a Championship (no doubt in my mind)

"It doesn't matter who scores the points, it's who can get the ball to the scorer" - Larry Bird

winner-within wrote:I like this move by the Thunder.....It may take away from them slightly for a chance at the title this current season but they are young and with all the draft picks coming up they are the team of the future...lets say after Lebron gets a couple more...

James Harden is 23 how is not signing him a move for the future? and it hurts them way more than slightly in their chance for a title this season. Every laker fan in the country is laughing at OKC for this trade. If OKC really didn't want to pay him why not play out the season and do a sign and trade in the off season?

ndlionsfan wrote:I think its a great move by the Thunder. Setting a precedent that they aren't going to tie up all their money in the "big three" like everyone else is doing. Lamb could turn into a great player, but at the very least be an exellent role player. Martin will do fine adding some scoring off the bench to fill the void left without Harden. The draft picks can be used to reload or trade for a need in the future. I think Harden is a very good player, but definitely not worth a max deal.

Why not have a big three? Those teams have had success. Martin has one year left on his deal, hurt all the time, and has very little value IMO.Harden is a top 3 SG in the league right now, in 2 years he could easily be the best there is no reason not to give him a max deal.

I actually liked the deal for the thunder for this year, not just the future. I am not saying that Kevin Martin is better then or close to the same level as James Harden. BUT I feel that come playoff time if healthy Kevin Martin brings a much needed "Knock Down Shooter" that they will need to stop teams from helping so much in the lane on Westbrook and Durant. Kevin Martin when healthy has been one of the most efficient scorers in the NBA

winner-within wrote:I like this move by the Thunder.....It may take away from them slightly for a chance at the title this current season but they are young and with all the draft picks coming up they are the team of the future...lets say after Lebron gets a couple more...

James Harden is 23 how is not signing him a move for the future? and it hurts them way more than slightly in their chance for a title this season. Every laker fan in the country is laughing at OKC for this trade. If OKC really didn't want to pay him why not play out the season and do a sign and trade in the off season?

ndlionsfan wrote:I think its a great move by the Thunder. Setting a precedent that they aren't going to tie up all their money in the "big three" like everyone else is doing. Lamb could turn into a great player, but at the very least be an exellent role player. Martin will do fine adding some scoring off the bench to fill the void left without Harden. The draft picks can be used to reload or trade for a need in the future. I think Harden is a very good player, but definitely not worth a max deal.

Why not have a big three? Those teams have had success. Martin has one year left on his deal, hurt all the time, and has very little value IMO.Harden is a top 3 SG in the league right now, in 2 years he could easily be the best there is no reason not to give him a max deal.

They woulda lost him anyways like Cleveland lost LeBron (and he couldn't carry LeBron's Shoes)...why not get something for him (which they did)....and I will move away from "slightly" to "it doesn't matter anyway because of the HEAT" oh yea, I said that.

"It doesn't matter who scores the points, it's who can get the ball to the scorer" - Larry Bird

The Schwab wrote:I actually liked the deal for the thunder for this year, not just the future. I am not saying that Kevin Martin is better then or close to the same level as James Harden. BUT I feel that come playoff time if healthy Kevin Martin brings a much needed "Knock Down Shooter" that they will need to stop teams from helping so much in the lane on Westbrook and Durant. Kevin Martin when healthy has been one of the most efficient scorers in the NBA

Harden is an excellent three point shooter. As you can tell, i'm a Thunder fan. Don't like the deal. They need Harden to balance the team. He saves them when Durant goes cold (not very often) but mostly he is valuable for when Westbrook is an idiot and they need Harden running the point so Westbrick doesn't touch it. Martin, pretty good player. Lamb, above average role player. 2 first round picks, one lottery from Toronto, on late round from LA. Maybe they hit big with that lottery pick, odds are pretty good that they don't. They were unrealistically lucky that they hit the jackpot 3 years in a row with KD, Westbrick and Harden (not to mention picking up Ibaka at 23). That just doesn't happen.

Winner, Harden would have signed a max deal if OKC would have offered it and if OKC really didn't want him they still could have done a sign trade and got players/picks back in return while maintaining a decent chance to win a title this season.

We all know the Thunder are the Hottest (meaning youngest, most potential) team in the NBA .......I trust Scotty and the GM, Owner have the best insight on what path to take.I wont be surprised if Westbrook is next.

"It doesn't matter who scores the points, it's who can get the ball to the scorer" - Larry Bird

I think they made a big mistake. I dont see them winning the west anymore this year w/o harden.

It is a little harder to motivate kids I guess because they’ve been pampered so much. We’re in the trophy generation, give ‘em a trophy for 23rd place, make ‘em feel good. Make mom and dad feel good.” Tom Izzo, Michigan State Basketball